Production Arts – Unit 65: Technical Stage Operations

Joe Roberts

Distinction criteria – Explain the uses and operation of different types of lighting, sound and video equipment.

SOUND!!!!

Sound Desk Rear

On this desk there is 24 inputs. There is 2 quarter inch jack inputs per channel. This will be mono however. To get stereo you need a jack per channel. There is also XLR input. ¼ inch jack

inputs for the sound source, usually either a cd player, ipod or a pc

Female XLR input

Power button

Power source input. The cable used is a kettle lead.

This desk has 3 outputs, 1 mono, 1 left, and 1 right. These are male XLR outputs.

Sound Desk Front

Each column is a channel. There is 24 channels. So there is 24 mono channels or 12 stereo channels because stereo sound uses left and right sound

This knob is the gain. The gain is how much sound is sent to the desk from the sound source.

The next 4 knobs are the high, mid and low cut frequency knobs. The first cuts or increases high frequency (treble). The next 1 down selects a frequency, then the one below cuts or boots that frequency. The last on cuts or increases low frequency (base). This can be done to make the sound, sound better

This fader controls the overall volume and should be set at 0.

This gauge shows us the volume, if this goes into the red, its too high and the sound will be distorted and bad quality, orange and green are good.

This knob is the pan. Pan is used to send sound left or right using stereo inputs, left speaker = left pan. Right speaker = right pan

Channel on button

Channel output volume

Distortion and input lights

Special effects, useful during shows

Effects

Reverb – Different locations have a different amount of reverberation. For example, a cave or cathedral has lots of reverb whilst a music studio or a small room have little reverb. On the sound desk you can use the effects channel to give the music coming out of the desk reverb. You would use this to give the effect of a cathedral in a music gig you would use a lot of reverb effect on the desk but if you wanted to give the effect of a larger space you wouldn’t use a lot of reverb. Also reverb is similar to echo in the fact that there is a slight delay.

Delay – Large locations have a delay from when the sound is

projected from when the audience hear it. Small locations have a very little delay, if any. If in a music gig if you wanted to give the effect that the location was bigger you would give the sound a delay on the desk.

Accessories XLR: An XLR cable is similar to a DMX cable but this cable is sound. An XLR cable connects the desk to the speakers.

¼ inch jack: A ¼ inch jack usually goes from the sound source to the desk.

Mini jack: This cable is used for connecting iPods / MP3’s etc to the sound desk.

Phono leads: A phono lead is used to connect a cd player to the sound desk.

Kettle lead: A kettle lead sends power from the main to the desk and from the mains to the speakers.

A figure of 8 lead: A figure of 8 lead sends power from the mains to the CD player. However this is less frequently used because a CD player will not always be your sound source.

Active speakers There are two types of speakers. Active

speakers and passive speakers. Active speakers have an amplifier built in so they can be connected straight from the desk. They are usually heavier than the passive equivalent because of the actives I would use active speakers over passive speakers if I was doing small gigs in halls and restaurants because it means its easier to set up and there is less trailing wires. However I wouldn’t use active speakers because they are heavier and they need a power source so hanging them on a wall bracket is unsuitable.

Passive speakers There are two types of speakers. Active

speakers and passive speakers. Passive speakers are similar to active speakers but passive speakers to not have an amplifier built in. So the sound goes from the desk to the amplifier to the speakers. Also passive speakers use speakon cable rather than XLR cables. I would use passive speakers if I was using them in stage show when the speakers are in the rig because things can be switched on and adjusted on the ground. If I used active then a power source would have to be up there plus I would have to switch in on manually which is very hard during a show.

Speakon cable